George and Hettie Love Memorial Library.
An influential Harrisburg couple has been memorialized in a special way.
As of June 3, the former Kline Library in Harrisburg has been renamed the George and Hettie Love Memorial Library to honor the legacy of a local couple that advocated for education and equality in the Black community.
“They were barrier breakers. They led exemplary lives and made sure other people were able to come into rooms they had a hard time getting into,” said Karen Love, George and Hettie’s daughter. “They opened the door for others.”
During their lives, Hettie and George, who have both passed away, made strides towards equality for African Americans. Hettie was the first Black woman to graduate with an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1947. After receiving his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, George became the first Black high school teacher in the Philadelphia school system.
In 1971, the Loves moved to Harrisburg where George became the assistant commissioner for basic education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, overseeing the desegregation of schools.
Hettie and George Love
George passed away in 2014, and Hettie passed away in 2023 at the age of 100.
Karen said that both her parents were avid readers and fostered a love of learning in her.
“Books and learning were key to my growing up,” she said. “Their lives were a testament to what can be done when you value education.”
The George and Hettie Love Memorial Library is the Dauphin County Library System’s first library named after African Americans.
Dwana Pinchock, marketing and public relations manager for the Dauphin County Library System, said that she is glad to see people of color represented in this way, especially given the large Black community in the Harrisburg area.
“It’s a beautiful, important thing,” Pinchock said. “It’s about seeing yourself reflected in greatness. That’s what the Loves are to people. They make people think, ‘maybe someday, I’ll change my community in such a way, they’ll name a library after me.’”
The George and Hettie Love Memorial Library is located at 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit the Dauphin County Library’s website.
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